…as Gov Mbah hails peaceful process
The Local Government Election in Enugu on Saturday was marred by low turnout of voters and late arrival of voting materials at various polling units and wards.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), there was low turnout in most wards, particularly in Igbariam Primary School Ward 7 and the Union Boys Secondary School Ward 8 respectively.
Meanwhile, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has hailed the peaceful outcome of the local government elections held on Saturday across the state, describing the exercise as the most peaceful.
Reports said there was the presence of security personnel at the wards visited even as people were going about their normal duties.
At Igbariam Primary School and Union Boys Secondary School, voting materials had not arrived as of 10 am.
A Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) agent at Ward 8 Unit 7, who spoke on condition of anonymity, attributed the low turnout to the experience of the 2023 general election.
“There is low turnout of voters as you can see, people are not coming out to vote because the last general election has discouraged everyone from coming out to cast their votes,” he said.
Also speaking at lgbariam Primary School Ward 7 Unit 2, one of the electorate, Mrs. Chika Eze said that despite security presence at the ward, only a few people turned out to cast their votes.
The roads were almost empty as there were few vehicular movements while some shops were open for businesses.
Mbah hails peaceful process
The Enugu governor while hailing the peaceful outcome of the local government elections described the exercise as the most peaceful.
The governor gave the commendation shortly after casting his vote at polling unit 007 Mbaguzo, Ashishi Owo in Nkanu East Local Government Area.
Describing the exercise as democracy in action, the governor who waited patiently for his turn in the queue to cast his vote, expressed his administration’s readiness to support those who would emerge winners irrespective of political party affiliation.
He reassured support for local government autonomy, saying that the process would help bring governance closer to the people.
Mbah said: “The exercise is very peaceful. It started on time.
”This is democracy and it is a very important exercise because we are trying to elect people who will lead our people at the grassroots.
“The local government had always operated as an autonomous arm of the government. Our mandate is to ensure that our people are lifted from the level of poverty.
“We are going to support the local government to allow their programmes.”
On the turnout of voters at his polling unit, Mbah said, “The voters’ turn out showed that people believe that the government’s decision will touch their lives.
“People are becoming increasingly aware that the government will touch their lives.
”People have resolved to choose those that will lead them. It must be done in a democratic way, and we won’t take it for granted.
“So, if it’s a democracy, we must allow it to run as a democracy. This is a level